{"id":3903,"date":"2017-09-10T04:00:31","date_gmt":"2017-09-10T08:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adventurousretirement.com\/blog\/?p=3903"},"modified":"2018-11-25T10:20:23","modified_gmt":"2018-11-25T15:20:23","slug":"rotorua-new-zealand-geological-_cultural","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventurousretirement.com\/blog\/rotorua-new-zealand-geological-_cultural\/","title":{"rendered":"Rotorua New Zealand – Geological & Cultural Diversity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why visit Rotorua?<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n

\"Tamaki<\/a>Does local culture and history interest you? How about geology? Or Hobbit and Lord of the Rings? All this and more awaits you in the Rotorua <\/a>area.<\/p>\n

It is rich in Maori Culture, and located near a geothermal wonderland. It is one of New Zealand\u2019s most popular destinations; in high season it\u2019s important to be flexible in accommodation preferences.\u00a0This area is close to many major attractions, like the Hobbiton Movie Set, Lake Taupo, and Waitomo’s glow worm caves. The Maori Culture, thermals, and Hobbiton attracted us the most.<\/p>\n

Maori Culture<\/h2>\n
\"Tamaki <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Tamaki <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

There are tribal experiences, a cultural center, and demonstration tribal villages available to visit. We chose Tamaki Maori Village<\/a> which included the hangi (the evening meal). Tom Parsons, our Maori guide from Taranaki, works with Maoris serving tourists, and Tamaki Maori Village was his recommendation. However, there are other Maori experiences, and the prices and highlights vary.<\/p>\n

The 4-hour experiential visit takes guests\u00a0through a welcome ceremony, into a mock village to participate in Maori daily life activities, like warrior training, then to a dance performance, and ending with hangi dining.<\/p>\n

\"Tamaki <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Tamaki <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Tamaki <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Tamaki <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Tamaki <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

At Tamaki Maori Village, no outsiders may enter without participating in the formal welcome ceremony. Warriors come out with their weapons drawn, an intimidating approach to test visitors\u2019 intent. They put on an menacing performance with ferocious eyes, tongues out, and shaking spears to exhibit a fierce demeanor. Once they see that visitors are friendly, a leaf for peace is offered. When the leaf is accepted it means the visitors come in peace and friendship. Once the visit is ascertained to be peaceful, the Tribe Leader invites the Group Leader and his party into their village.<\/p>\n

\"Tamaki <\/a> <\/div>
\"Tamaki <\/a> <\/div>
\"Tamaki <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Tamaki <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

In the village groups are escorted to different huts and places throughout the village, each demonstrating a different aspect of tribal life. An interactive activity that had us all laughing and entertained was the warrior training where all the men in our group were taught the warrior\u2019s ancestral Haka war dance, traditionally used to intimidate an opponent before battle.<\/p>\n

\"Tamaki<\/a>The hangi (meal) is buried and cooked underground in hot coals for many hours. Visitors watch it being unearthed and learn about how it is prepared and cooked. Just before dinner is a typical tribal dancing entertainment. Know that it is definitely amateurs dancing, just the local people as they might have been historically.<\/p>\n

After dinner, the entertainment\u00a0is more contemporary music by the service staff before we were sent off for our return trip to town \u2013 satiated and entertained.<\/p>\n

The dinner was delicious and plentiful. Learning about historical daily life of Maoris was interesting and the interactivity made it fun. I would recommend the Tamaki Maori Village experience. Know that it is an expensive activity that includes a full dinner with drinks being extra. Although we learned quite a bit on our other museum and cultural center visits, this was our only in-depth experience of Maori daily life, so we were happy we did it.<\/p>\n

To enjoy this experience more fully, visit the museums to learn about the Maori history before going to a village experience. It will provide context and background that is not part of the village experience.<\/p>\n

While we were given a small discount for the Tamaki Maori Village encounter, this is a totally independent and honest review based on our experience.<\/em><\/p>\n

Thermal Activities<\/h2>\n
\"Thermal <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Waiotapu <\/a> <\/div>
\"Geothermal <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Geothermal activity in this area is quite evident with steam seething from street cracks, backyards, hot pools, bursts from area geysers, and cauldron-like mud pools. Various crystalized mineral formations, and colorful hues blend with the lush native greens, blue lakes, and earth tones of rust red to yellow ochre. The landscape has been\u00a0 sculpted by the volcanic activity over thousands of years transforming this area into an impressive natural art form.<\/p>\n

There are many thermal wonders in the Rotorua area, and we chose to visit two:<\/p>\n